Body headrest for undertakers&#39; use



July 21, 1931; 'J. 1-1; SWEENEY BODY HEADREST FOR UNDERTAKERSUSE FiledApril 8, 1930 j W H n :7 .6 J W I g 5 6 H J v r 7 ||L 4ll =5 1 Umw 7 v 14 i z 3 Patented July 21, 1931 UNETED STATES JOSEPH H. SWEENEY, FNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE BODY HEADRE ST FOR UNDERTAKERS USE Applicationfiled April 8, 1930. Serial No. 442,572.

This invention relates to a device for use by undertakers and embalmerswhile working upon a corpse.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device formaintaining the head of the corpse in a fixed position and for holdingthe lower jaw firmly against the upper jaw during the injection of theembalming fluid, the head being so held that the embalmer is enabled tomessage the entire face, neck and ears during the embalming operation.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a device by means of which,after a cranial post-mortem examination, the removed portion of theskull may be held in replaced position while the plaster of Paris fillerwhich is used in this operation is drying and hardening.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of'thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding,however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformitywith the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so longas such changes or modifications mark no material departure from thesalient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

7 Figure 1 shows the device embodying the present invention in sideelevation, showing in dotted position a head resting thereon.

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the head support.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

, Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through one of the feet of the standshowing the means for'adjusting the height thereof.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-,6 of Figure 2. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 1 indicates genera-11y the head rest base embodying the presentinvention, the same comprising a substant ally rectangular frame 2comprising the side bars 3 and the connecting bars 4. As shown each ofthe side bars 3 has formed therethrough a longitudinally extendingserles of apertures 5 and the transverse bars a which connect the sidebars 3 are further connected by the concave substantially parallel headsupporting bars 6 which lie parallel with the side bars 3.

At each corner of the frame 2 a foot post 7 1s formed which threadablyreceives in its lower portion the shank of a screw 8 to which isattached a rubber button 9. As will be readily seen upon reference toFigure 1 longitudinal adjustment of the screws 8 will raise or lower thecorners of the head support to which they are attached, as desired.

The frame 2 carries ahead frame or yoke 10 which, as shown in Figure 2,is substantially U-shaped and has the terminal portions of the side arms11 angularly directed as indicated at 12 and each is provided with acircumferential recess 13 for the purpose here-' mafter described. Theturned portion 12 of each side bar of the frame or yoke 10 is adapted toextend through an aperture 5 of a side bar 8 of the head rest frame andeach side bar ofthis yoke is held in place by means of a sliding latch14' carried by the adjacent bar 3 and surrounding it and having at oneedge of the upper and lower portion thereof a notch 15' of the propersize to snuglyreceive that portion of the yoke bar about which thecircumferential recess 13' is formed. It will thus be seen uponreference to Figure 3 of the drawing that the latch member 1% willsecurely hold the adjacent bar in place;

Pivotally attached to each side bar 11 of the head yoke, intermediateits ends, is a brace bar 16 which is threaded throughout its length andcarries a nut 17. The free end of each brace bar 16 is adapted to extendthrough an adjacent aperture 5, the nut 17 on the brace bar resting uponthe top of the adjacent frame ba'rS in the manner shown in Figure 1;From this it will be readily seen h angular. adjustment of the yokelli)with regard to the frame 2 upon which the head of the corpse rests maybe readily made to bring the connecting portion 18 of the head yoke intothe proper position for the engagement of a screw member carried therebyand about to be-described, with the top of the head or with the chin ofthe body in the manner shown.

The head engaging screw carried by the cross bar 18 of the yoke 10 isindicated by the numeral 19. This screw swivelly carries upon theendwhich is disposed within the yoke abutton 20 While upon itsother enda knob 21 is secured.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that by using thedevice herein described the head of a body may be firmly held in theproper position for the introduction of embalming fluid into the bodyand for the necessary massaging of the face and neck thereof during thisoperation. It will also be readily understoodthat by reversing the headsupport and lowering the yoke 10 the top of the skull may be firmly heldin place by the screw 19 after the same has been replaced following apost-mortem examination and while the plaster inserted for filling outthe portions of the skull removed is hard ening.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A head rest of the character described, comprising a base, a framedisposed at an inclination from the horizontal, above and horizontallyadjustable on the base, the frame being designed to have a headpositioned therein, means interposed between the frame and the base forvertically adjusting a transverse portion thereof, and means carried bythe transverse portion for engaging ahead resting upon the base to holdthe head in position thereon.

2. A head support of the character described, comprising a baseconsisting of a frame and members connecting opposite sides thereof forsupporting a head, a substantially U-shaped frame detachably connectedat the ends of its side members with side members of the base frame,means for horizontally adjusting the U-shaped frame on the base frame,means connecting the U- shaped frame with the base frame whereby theU-shaped frame may be vertically adjusted at one end and caused toassume an acute angle with and over the base frame, and means carried bythe U-shaped frame at the vertically adjustable end thereof for engaginga head resting upon the base.

3. A head support comprising a base portion consisting of a frame havinglongitudinally apertured side members, concave members extending acrossthe frame for the support of a head, legs supporting the frame, meansfor vertically adjusting each of said legs, and a head engaging unitcarried by the frame and adapted to be horizontally adj ustable thereonby selective engagement with the apertures in the frame side members.

4. A body head support comprising a base consisting of a frame havingopposite side members thereof each provided with a longitudinallyextending series of apertures, elements carried by the frame forsupporting a head, a substantially U-shaped frame having the free end ofeach side portion thereof formed for engagement in one of saidapertures, a shiftable latch carried by each of the apertured sides ofthe first mentioned frame for engaging and maintaining the side mem bersof the second mentioned frame in position, means connecting the sidemembers of the second mentioned frame with the side members of the baseframe for vertically shifting the second mentioned frame, and ashiftable element carried by the second mentioned frame for engaging andholding in position a head resting upon the base.

5. A head supporting structure comprising a base having opposite sidemembers each provided with a longitudinally extending series ofapertures, a substantially U-shaped frame supported by said base andhaving the side members thereof each angularly disposed at its free endand provided with a circumferential recess for engagement in anapertureof a base side member, an arm pivotally attached to each side member ofthe U- shaped frame and adapted to extend through an aperture in theadjacent base side member, a nut threaded on each arm abutting theadjacent base and adapted to raise or lower the arm and the attachedframe, and a threaded member extended transversely through the yokeportion of the U-shaped frame for engagement with a head disposed in theframe andresting upon the base.

6. A head supporting structure comprising a base having opposite sidemembers each provided with a longitudinally extending series ofapertures, a substantially U-shaped frame supported by said base andhaving the side members thereof each angularly disposed at its free endand provided with a circumferential recess for engagement in an apertureof a base side member, an arm pivotally attached to each side member ofthe U- shaped frame and adapted to extend through an aperture in theadjacent base side member, a nut threaded on each arm abutting theadjacent base and adapted to raise or lower the arm and the attachedframe, a threaded member extended transversely through the yoke portionof the U-shaped frame for engagement with a head disposed in the frameand resting upon the base, and a latch member shiftable on each sidemember of the base for engaging the adjacent frame side portion tomaintain the same in position.

7 A head rest of the character described, comprising a head supportingbody, a substantially U-shaped frame havingthe end of each side portionthereof connected with the body at one side of the same, said framebeing disposed at an inclination from the horizontal, means connectingthe side members of the frame with the body whereby the portion of theframe connecting the side members may be raised or lowered, and anelement adjustably carried by the portion of the frame between the sidemembers thereof for engaging the chin of a head on the body.

8. A head rest of the character described, comprising a head supportingbody, a substantially U-shaped frame having the free end of each sidemember thereof loosely connected with a side of the body, a screw memberconnected at one end with one side member of said frame and having itsother end extending downwardly therefrom through an aperture in thebody, a nut upon each screw arranged to engage the body to lift theframe to an inclined position, and a member adjustably supported by theyoke portion of the frame and adapted to be shifted into engagement withthe chin of a head positioned in the frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH H. SVEENEY.

